Read Die for Me for Free Online

still hot and sunny at six p.m. by splashing around ecstatically in the water.
    Vincent walked slightly hunched over with his hands in his pockets. For the first time I sensed in him a tiny hint of vulnerability. I took advantage of it. “I don’t even know how old you are.”
    â€œNineteen,” he said.
    â€œWhat do you do?”
    â€œStudent.”
    â€œReally? Because your friend said something about your being in the police force.” I couldn’t help the trace of sarcasm in my voice.
    â€œWhat?” he exclaimed, coming to a complete stop.
    â€œMy sister and I saw you rescue that girl.”
    Vincent stared at me blankly.
    â€œThe girl who jumped off the Carrousel Bridge during that gang fight. Your friend escorted us away and told us it was a police procedure.”
    â€œOh, he did?” Vincent muttered, his expression assuming the hardened look it’d had the first time I met him. He thrust his hands back into his pockets and continued walking. We were getting closer to the Métro stop. I slowed my pace to buy a little more time.
    â€œSo what are you guys, undercover cops?” I didn’t believe it for a second, but tried to sound sincere. His sudden change in mood had intrigued me.
    â€œSomething like that.”
    â€œWhat, kind of like a SWAT team?”
    He didn’t respond.
    â€œThat was really brave, by the way,” I insisted. “Your diving into the river. What did the girl have to do with the gang fighting under the bridge, anyhow?” I asked, digging further.
    â€œUm, I’m not supposed to talk about it,” Vincent said, studying the concrete a few inches in front of his feet.
    â€œOh yeah. Of course,” I said lightly. “You just look really young to be a cop.” I couldn’t stop a facetious smile from spreading across my lips.
    â€œI told you . . . I’m a student,” he said, giving me an uncertain grin. He could tell I didn’t buy it.
    â€œYeah. Okay. I didn’t see anything. I didn’t hear anything,” I said dramatically.
    Vincent laughed, his good mood returning. “So . . . Kate, what are you doing this weekend?”
    â€œUm . . . no plans,” I said, silently cursing my reddening cheeks.
    â€œDo you want to do something?” he asked, with a smile so charming that my heart forgot to beat.
    I nodded, since I couldn’t speak.
    Taking my silence as hesitation, he added quickly, “Not like a formal date or anything. Just hanging out. We can . . . take a walk. Wander around the Marais.”
    I nodded again, and then managed to get out, “That would be great.”
    â€œOkay, how about Saturday afternoon? Daylight. In public. A perfectly safe thing to do with a guy you barely know.” He held up his hands as if showing he wasn’t hiding anything.
    I laughed. “Don’t worry. Even if you are on a SWAT team, I’m not afraid of you.” As soon as it was out of my mouth I realized that I was afraid. Just a little bit. I wondered once more if that was his pull on me. Maybe my parents’ deaths had left me with a lack of self-preservation and it was the hint of danger that I was going for. Or maybe I was attracted to the vague aura of untouchable aloofness that he exuded. Maybe all he was to me was a challenge. Whatever the reason, it was effective. I really liked this guy. And I wanted to see him again. Night, day, I didn’t care. I’d be there.
    He lifted an eyebrow and chuckled. “Not afraid of me. How . . . amusing.” I couldn’t help myself from laughing along.
    Nodding the other direction down the boulevard, he said, “Jules is probably waiting for me. See you Saturday. Meet you outside the rue du Bac Métro station at three?”
    â€œSaturday, three o’clock,” I confirmed as he turned and walked away. I don’t think it would be exaggerating much to say that